Spring-supported vehicle



Jan. 14, 1936.

R. D. KNEYALE 2,027,913

.SPRING SUPPORTED VEHICLE I Filed Jan. 22, 1935 4 sheets-sheet 1 gvwwwtoas fioberi D. Ane

Marrow/wa s Jan. 14, 193

R. D. KNEALE SPRING SUPPORTED VEHICLE Filed Jan. 22, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiberi .D.

5H5 (mm/amp Jan. 14, 1936. R. D.KNEALE 2,027,913 SPRING SUPPORTED VEHICLE Filed Jan. 22, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet a ,3 gvvuc'wto'b Robe??? DQ Anec Le,

R. D. kNEALE 2,027,913

SPRING SUPPORTED VEHICLE Filed Jan. 22, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fioberl' D. fine 6,

15 the limits of the wheel base, and, by the term Fig- 6 is a f men y; sectional view show- 15 Patented Jan. 14, 1936 I I. w

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRING-SUPPORTED VEHICLE Robert D. Kneale, Atlanta, Ga.

Application January 22, 1935, Serial No. 2,930

9 Claims. (Cl. 280-124) My invention relates to improvements in trated in the accompanying drawings, forming a spring-supported vehicles and has to do, more part of this specification, in whlch:--' particularly, with the mounting of the chassis Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a motor frame of the vehicle on six or more road wheels. vehicle embodying my invention- The-principal object of my invention is to pro- Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly broken away, of vide a spring mounting for the chassis frame of the chassis frame, spring Susp axles and a vehicle, of such a nature that the chassis frame road wheels of the motor vehicle shown in Fig. 1.

will not rise and fall as the wheels pass over ordi- 3 s a View P t y broken y, 01 the nary irregularities in the surface of the roadway, chassis and associated P taken Oil-the line but will move in a plane parallel to the mean 33 of Fig.2. 1 10 height of the surface, without any bound or Fi 4 is a det il, sectional view taken on the pitch. .By the term "ordinary irregularities, I ne 44 o Fig.

mean those humps and depressions in the roadg- 5 is a Sectional View, taken on the line way surface which lie under the chassis within 55 of Fig. 2, showing one of the rear axles.

mean height", I mean the height that would in he, means for adjusting n of the i r sresult if all humps were planed oil into the de- Fig. 7 is a transverse, sectional view of the front pressions until neither elevation nor depression Wheel suspe i n, taken on the line Of remained. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic plan view or the In spring-supported v hi l of th y h chassis frameof a vehicle illustrating the prin- 20 tofore known, the passing of one or more of th ciples of my invention. I wheels over a hump or depression i th roadway Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation surface causes a. change in the forces acting upon of Said Vehiclethe springs and a consequent change in the deis & D n dia a Showing fieeti of th springs which is transmitted to one of the wheels over a depression in the road- 25 the chassis frame, with the result that all the and springs are constantly fluctuating in deflection, 11' is corresPondingdiagmm showing both above and below normal, .thus causing of the Wheels passmg hump a that; is the upward and downward In the drawmgs, the same reference numerals 3 movement of the body and pitchq; that is the indicate the same parts throughout the several alternate rise and fall of each end at the vehicle Y and t iectmnal Views are taken with a forward and back motion, sometimes called g g ggg n of the arrows at the ends of a gallop. It is the object of my invention, I

therefore, to provide a spring suspension for ve- In gener.a1 my Invention consists mount' hicles. of such a nature. that the springs will E fi i g fi fi gg g q of over ordinary irregularities, so that the chassis f th hi 1 d t bet th frame will neither bound nor pitch. 8 m ermsmg: ween e In n 1 th 1 f wheels and the vehicle frame, springs which are 40 ge 8 3 er purpose 9 my placed and maintained under a normal deflec- 40 vention is to provide a spring suspension which on greater than that which would be caused will give a very much smoother riding vehicle,

. the 10 d when the wh els rest u on a erthus conducing to the comfort of the passenger by a e p p fectl lane, horizontal surface. In order to and increas ng the life of the vehicle, even when g g the principle ofmy invention, 1 Wm it is us upon surfaces which are comparatively refer to the diagrams, Figs 8 to 11 inclusive, 5 roughthough it is to be understood that these are Further objects, and objects relating to details merely g a t sketches used for t and economies of operation and construction, will pose of discussing the theory 5 my invention definitely appear from the detailed description to Referring t Figs 3 and 9, {h ll t t d a follow. In general, I have accomplished the obsimple chassis frame A, c, h h i t- 50 jects of my invention by the devices and means ed on eight wheels W-l W-2, W-3, W4, .set forth in the, following specification. My in- W--5, WB, W--l,W8, there being four wheels vention is clearly defined and pointed out in the at each side of the vehicle. Each wheel is ilappended claims. A structure constituting a lustrated as carried by a yoke having a stem S, preferred embodiment of my invention is illuspassing through a side member of the chassis 55 frame, and a nut N screwed thereon and bearing upon the upper surface of the chassis frame. A spring E is interposed between each wheel and the frame, being illustrated in the diagram as surrounding the stem S and interposed between the lower surface of the frame and the yoke which carries the wheel. Each stem S is supposed to be free to move up and down through the hole in the chassis frame. When the nut N is left off, or backed-up, any change in the load on the spring, or any sudden rise or fall of the wheel, will cause a change in the position of the frame, resulting in a series of fluctuations in the height of the body. The amplitude of these fluctuations or oscillations diminishes after each such change until balance is again restored. If, however, the nut N is screwed up on the stem until added deflection is given to the spring, then a small added load need not further defiectthe spring and there can be no reduction in that deflection due to the non-extensibility of the stem.

Fig. 9 illustrates diagrammatically such a vehicle resting on a plane, horizontal surface. Fig. 10 shows the same vehicle with the wheel W-3 passing over a depression P-l. Fig. 11 shows the same vehicle with the wheel W-3 passing over a hump or elevation P--2.

Let us first consider the case in which the nuts N are omitted or backed-up, so that they will not put any added deflection on the springs S. Suppose that the weight of the chassis and body, that is the load, resting on the eight springs S and equally distributed, is 2400 pounds, then each spring must support its share, or 300 pounds, when resting on a level surface, and the reaction of that surface against each wheel is also 300 pounds or one-eighth of the load. If, now, any load is added, each' spring will be further compressed and the height of the frame above the surface reduced and, if the load is lessened, each spring will expand, thus raising the frame. If the vehicle moves over an irregular surface to the position shown in Fig. 10, then the wheel W-3 will drop into the depression P-l, causing its spring S to expand with less lift against the chassis and so carrying less than its share of the total load. The other springs must then carry more than their share of the total load and increase their deflection, causing the chassis frame to lower. In other words, the chassis frame will drop when the wheel W-3 drops into the depression P-l. Also, if any wheel passes over a hump, as P--2 in Fig. 11, the

corresponding spring S must be further compressed and so must carry more than its normal share of the load, leaving less to be carried by the other springs, which are thus free to expand and, as they expand, will lift the chassis frame to a higher elevation. It is, therefore, plain that, even though the vehicle is mounted on six or.more wheels, the chassis frame will rise and fall with the rise and fall of the wheels, even if the wheels are individually sprung, if the nuts N are not adjusted to place added deflection upon the springs. The mere use, therefore, of six or more individually sprung wheels will not. attain the objects of my invention.

Suppose the same apparatus on a level surface, as shown in Fig. 9, with the nuts N in position on the stems S and tightened up until there is a tension in each stern of 100 pounds. No load has been added to the chassis frame, yet each spring is now carrying its 300 pounds share of the original load, plus the 100 pounds caused by tightening the nut N. In other words, the total force now compressing each spring is 400 pounds and the reaction of the surface against each wheel would have to exceed 400 pounds to fur ther compress any spring. If the vehicle now moves over an irregular surface, as shown in Fig. 10, until the wheel W-3 passes over the depression P-|, the nut N will not allow the wheel w to drop into that depression and, therefore, there will be no reaction of the ground against the wheel, and its share of the total load must now be carried by the seven remaining wheels, making one-seventh of 300 pounds, or about 43 pounds extra, to be carried by each of the other wheels, so that the reaction of the surface against such other wheels will now be the original 300 pounds plus theadded 43 pounds, or a total of 343 pounds. However, it requires more than 400 pounds of such reaction to further compress any spring, so none of these springs will be further compressed and there will be no lowering of the chassis frame when the wheel W3 passes over the depression P-l.

If, instead of a depression, the wheel W-3 passes over a hump, as P-2, Fig. 11, the spring E of wheel W3 is too flexible to raise the entire chassis frame, so that it will be compressed fur ther, thus exerting against the frame a force of more than 300 pounds. This extra force, however, is all used up in further deflecting or compressing the spring because no other spring can expand, due to the adjustment of the tension nuts N. A wheel passing over such a hump, accordingly, cannot raise the chassis frame at all. It is, therefore, evident that a vehicle which is mounted on six or more wheels, with springs interposed between the wheels and the chassis frame and maintained under a normal deflection greater than that which would be caused by the load when the wheels rest on a level surface, will not rise or fall as the wheels pass over ordinary irregularities in the road surface.

As I have stated, my invention contemplates the mounting of the vehicle frame upon more than two wheels at each side of the vehicle, with the springs placed under a normal deflection greater than that which would be caused by the load. In order to make clear the importance of having more than two wheels at each side of the vehicle, let us consider the diagram, Fig. 8, but with the wheels W-2, W-3, W--6 and W---'! removed, leaving the chassis frame mounted on but four wheels, two on each side thereof. Suppose the total load is now 1200 pounds, equally distributed, so that each spring will still support one quarter of that load, or 300 pounds. The nuts N are now tightened up to add another 100 pounds-to the compression on each spring, as in the case previously considered. One quarter of the load now rests on each spring and, therefore, the springs must be stiff enough to lift that amount. The center of gravity of the chassis will be about at the point of intersection of two lines bisecting the chassis in two directions. Suppose now that a wheel, for example, W4, passes over a depression P-i. It will either be suspended above the depression or drop into it. If it remains suspended, the chassis is in a state of unstable equilibrium because the center of gravity will be at the extreme edge of the line of support. As a result, the slightest wind pressure or jolt will destroy that equilibrium and cause the wheel W-t to drop into the depression P-l, causing bounce and pitch. The wheels of a fourwheele'd vehicle, therefore, cannot pass over depressions without dropping into them, even when the springs are maintained under a normal deflection greater than that caused by the load when the wheels rest on a horizontal surface. 01 course, if the springs are not placed and maintained under such a normal deflection, the wheel W-4 will drop instantly into the depression P-l because of the expansion of its spring plus the expansion in the spring diagonally opposite it. It is plain, therefore, that, in a four-wheeled vehicle, having two wheels only on each side, the chassis frame will rise and fall as the wheels pass over ordinary irregularities in the roadway, regardless of the mounting, the rise being forced by the extra stiffness of the springs that must be used when the vehicle is supported at four points only. In order to attain the objects of my invention, therefore, there should be more than two wheels at each side of the vehicle and the springs interposed between such wheels and the chassis frame should be maintained under a normal deflection greater than that which would be caused by the load when the wheels rest on a horizontal surface.

In general, each spring should be placed under a normal deflection which is greater than that which would be caused if the load were distributed among and supported by one less than the number of wheels actuallyused. In other words, the normal deflection under which the springs are maintained should be greater than that which would be caused bythe normalshare of the load resting on each spring plus the additional load transmitted to the springs when one of the wheels ceases to sllpport'its share of the load. Let L equal the total load and a equal the number of surface.

wheels. Then,

is the share of the total load resting on each spring, when all the wheels rest on a horizontal support its share of the load, the load resting upon the other wheels will be increased by when all wheels rest on a level horizontal surface.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 'l, in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, I have shown a motor vehicle having a chassis frame Ill, upon which a body I I is mounted. The chassis frame is supported by eight road wheels |2, |3, l4, l5, l6, l1, l3, and I9, there being four of these wheels ateach side of the ve- ,hicle.

The four front wheels |2,- |3, l6 and I! are mounted upon the axles 20, 2|, being jourupon stub axles swiveled' at the ends of axles 20 and 2| in the usual manner. The leaf springs 22, 23, are secured intermediate their ends to the side members'of the chassis frame I6, as at 24, and the free ends of said springs are When one of these wheels ceases to connected to the axles 20, 2|, by suitable clips, in the manner well understood in this art.'- stirrups 25 are provided, each including an elongated recess 26, receiving thecorresponding axle. Each stirrup has a threaded stem 21 (Fig. 6) which passes through a flange or bracket 28 secured to a side member of the frame "I. A nut 23 screwed upon the stem 21 engages the bracket 26, and thus determines the positioning of the lower end ofthe recess 26 of the stirrup with respect to the chassis frame. As illustrated, there are four of these stirrups forthe two front axles 20 and 2|, two of the stirrups being mounted on each of the side. members of the frame.

For each of the front axles 26 and 2| there is 3|, mounted on a cross-member 32, so that the steering linkage will be simultaneously actuated.

to swivel the front wheels in the proper direction. Each of the front wheels may be provided with an independent brake drum 33 for cooperation with braking mechanism not shown.

The rear wheels l4, l5, l6 and I9 are journaled upon a pair of rear axles 34, 35. Leaf springs 36, 31, are connected to the side members of the chassis frame intermediate their ends, as at 38, and the extremities of said springs are connected by eyes to the axles 34, 35. As in the case of the front axles, stirrups 25 are provided which are adjustably connected with the side members of the chassis frame by the threaded stems 21, extending through brackets 26 and having the nuts 29 screwed thereon and engaging the brackets,-

movement of the axles away from the frame or vice versa. I

The rear wheels each have a bevel gesn39 .meshing with a bevel pinion 40 on a short shaft 4| carrying a bevel pinion 42 meshing with a gear 43 on the end of a cross-shaft which is housed within a transverse casing houses the usual differential mechanism through which power is transmitted from the longitudinally extending power shaft to drive the gears 43 at opposite sides of the vehicle. Brake drums 45 may be provided upon the transverse shaft adjacent the gears 43 for cooperation with braking mechanism.

It will be seen that I have provided a spring supported vehicle carried by eight road wheels arranged four at each side of the vehicle. The springs 22, 23, 36, 31, are interposed between the chassis frame l0 and these wheels, that is, between the chassis frame and the axles on which the wheels are journaled. In this proposed embodiment, wheels are mounted on opposite ends of the same axle, so that, when any wheel rises or fails, it will carry its end of its axle with it, thus causing a slight tilting of the wheel at the other end of the axle. This tilting is so small that it will be negligible in its effect on riding qualities. It will appear, therefore, that my invention may be embodied in a construction making use of independently sprung wheels, or in one such as shown, in which the wheels are not independently sprung.

'It will be observed that the maximum spacing between each axleand the chassis frame is controlled by the stirrups 25 through the adjust- The cross-rods 30 are pivotally connected to an equalizing bar 44. This casing ,which is mounted on a shaft 56,

ment of the nuts 21. When all of the wheels of the vehicle rest upon a perfectly level horizontal surface, the load distributed to these wheels will cause a certain deflection in the springs 22, 23, 36, 31, and a certain spacing of the axles 20, 2t, 34, 35-, with respect to the frame. The nuts 29 should now be screwedup so as to draw the axles still closer to the frame, thus placing the springs under greater deflection and maintaining them under such deflection. As indicated above, the springs should thus be placed and maintained under a normal deflection greater than that which would be caused, when the supporting wheels rest on a plane surface, by

of the load, where a represents the number of wheels. In this instance, there being eight supporting wheels, the stirrups 25 should be adjusted, by screwing up the nuts 29, until the springs have been given a deflection greater than that which would be caused by eight-sevenths of the load, when the wheels rest upon a level supporting surface.

Although I have illustrated the stirrups 25 as provided with elongated slots 26 receiving the axles and permitting a sliding movement of the axles therein, this is merely illustrative and I have used the term stirrup" as indicative of the retaining devices illustrated, or their equivalent, including an ordinary fabric web such as is often used for a snubber.

Each nut 29 has its periphery formed into a worm gear i! journaled on-one of the side members of'the chassis frame l0. There are a pair of longitudinally extending rods 5|, each of which has four worm portions 52 formed therein and meshing with the worm gears 50 of the nuts 29, mounted on the corresponding side member of the chassis frame. By the rotation of the rod 5|, therefore, the nuts 29 are turned upon the threaded stems 21, so as to adjust the stirrups 25 in one direction or the other. Upon the forward end of each rod 5i, there is mounted a sprocket 53 and a chain 54 passes around said sprockets 53, having a driving sprocket 55, t The shaft it carries another similar sprocket around which runs a chain 51 leading to a sprocket 58 on tated so as to screw or unscrew the nuts 29 upon the stirrup stems 21. Thus, the operator may simultaneously adjust all of the stirrups from the driver's seat so as to place and maintain the springs under the desired normal deflection. I have heretofore indicated the principles which should guide the driver in this adjustment. The stirrups should be so adjusted that the springs are placed under a normal deflection greater than that caused by the load when the wheels rest on a horizontal surface and preferably greater than that which would be caused, in the case of an eight-wheeled vehicle, by eightsevenths of the load. t

The application of the principles of my invention to the construction of a spring-supported vehicle produces a much smoother riding vehicle than has been known heretofore. As the wheels pass over ordinary irregularities of the roadway.

the chassis frame will not rise or fall, bounce or pitch, but will travel in a plane parallel to the mean height of the roadway. Thus, I have provided a vehicle which is much more comfortable to ride in and which will have a longer life because of the elimination of the wear and tear due to the constant rise and fall of the chassis frame as the wheels pass'over a rough surface.

I am aware that my invention is susceptible of considerable variation without departing from "the spirit thereof and, therefore, I claim it broadly as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a vehicle, the combination of a vehicle frame, a plurality of supporting axles, wheels joumaled on opposite ends of said axles, there being more than two axles so that there are more than two wheels at each side of the vehicle,

' springs interposed between said frame and axles,

a plurality of stirrups carried by the frame and receiving the axles, and means for simultaneously positioning the stirrups with respect to the frame to place and maintain the springs under a normal deflection greater than that which would be caused by the load when the supporting wheels rest on a plane surface.

3. In a vehicle, the combination of a vehicle frame, a plurality of supporting axles, wheels joumaled on opposite ends of said axles, there being more than two axles so that there are more than two wheels at each side of the vehicle,-

springs interposed between said frame and axles, a plurality of stirrups carried by the frame and receiving the axles, and means operable from the drivers'seat for positioning the stirrups with respect to theframe to place and maintain the springs under a normal deflection greater than that-which would be caused by the load when the wheels rest on a plane surface.

4. In a vehicle, the combination of a vehicle frame, a plurality of supporting wheels so lo-' cated that there are more than two wheels at each side of the vehicle, axles on which said wheels are joumaled, springs interposed between said frame and axles, a plurality of stirrups receiving said' axles, each stirrup having a threaded stem passing through a member fixed with respect to the frame, nuts screwed'on said stems and engaging said members said nuts having worm gear peripheries, a pair of rods joumaled on said frame and having worm portions meshing with the peripheries of said nuts, and means for rotating said rods.

5. In a vehicle, the combination of a vehicle frame, a plurality of supporting wheels so located that there are more than two wheels at each side of the vehicle, axles on which said wheels are joumaled, springs interposed between said frame and axles, a plurality of stirrups receiving said axles, each stirrup having a threaded stem passing through a member fixed with respect to the frame, nuts screwed on said stems and en-' having worm portions meshing with the periph- I 2,027,913 eries iormed into worm gears, 'a plurality of rods iournaled on side members of the frame and eries of said nuts, and means for simultaneously rotating said rods.

6. In a vehicle, the combination ot a vehicle frame, a plin'ality of supporting wheels so located that there are more than two. wheels at each side of the vehicle, springs interposed between the wheels and the vehicle ,frame and each maintained under a normal deflection in excess of that which would be caused, when the supporting wheels rest on a plane surface, by

9 V a-l 01 the load, (1 representing the number of wheels, and means for preventing any decrease in the deflection oi the springs from normal.

7. In a vehicle, the combination of a vehicle 7 'frame, a plurality of supporting wheels so located that-there are more than two wheels at each side of the vehicle, axles on which said wheels are iournaled, springs interposed between said frame and axles and each maintained under a normal deflection greater than that which would deflection.

be caused by the load when the supporting wheels I rest on a plane surface, and means for preventing any decreasein the deflection of said springs irom the normal.

8. In a vehicle, the combination of -'a vehicle frame, a plurality oi! supporting wheels so located that there are more than two wheels at each side of the vehicle, springs interposed between the wheels and the vehicle frame. and each maintained under a normal deflection greater than that which would be caused by the load when the supporting wheels rest on a plane surface. and means for simultaneously stressing said springs to place them under normaldeflection.

9. In a vehicle, the combination of a vehicle frame, a plurality of supporting wheels so located that there are more than two wheels at each side of the vehicle,springs interposed between the wheels anclthe vehicle frame and each maintained under a normal deflection greater than that which would be caused by the load when the wheels rest on a plane surface, and means operable from the drivers seat for stressing said springs to place them under said normal ROBERT D. KNEALE. 

